VNSNY’s Goldstein honored as national GEM Award winner

Jill Goldstein, RN, MA, MS, Visiting Nurse Service of New York vice president of congregate care, was honored at a Nov. 25 awards ceremony for winning the 2013 Nurse.com National GEM Award in the Home, Community and Ambulatory Care category.

The reception, hosted by VNSNY President and CEO Mary Ann Christopher, RN, MSN, FAAN, and Nurse.com senior vice president and CNE Eileen Williamson, RN, MSN, included testimonials from Christopher and one of Goldstein’s colleagues during relief efforts in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Margaret Meringolo, RN, BSN, offered reflections of the storm team Goldstein led. She said team members sat on chairs in an elementary school classroom and discussed VNSNY’s mission, which they wrote on a large sheet of paper for all to see every day.

“Last November, we knocked on more than 5,000 doors and admitted more than 500 people,” Meringolo said. “This national award serves as a testament of a mission accomplished. Thank you, Jill.”

Goldstein’s dedication and leadership in the aftermath of the storm prompted Christopher to pen an eloquent nomination, excerpts of which were read by Williamson during the ceremony. The poignant story led to Goldstein’s winning the New York/New Jersey Metro regional award, then the national honor.

In her congratulatory remarks, Christopher noted how Goldstein “extended her hand” without hesitation. “For Jill, for her passion, for her leadership, for her ministry, we give thanks,” she said.

Upon receiving an obelisk and commemorative Nurse.com cover from Williamson, Goldstein said, “I am profoundly humbled, grateful and blessed for this award.”Goldstein also received congratulations from longtime VNSNY board member Phyllis Mills, RN, who brought greetings from the entire board, and Howard Zucker, MD, first deputy commissioner of health, who worked alongside Goldstein and Meringolo in the Sandy relief efforts. Zucker presented Goldstein with a citation on behalf of Nirav R. Shah, MD, MPH, commissioner, New York State Department of Health, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for her dedication to the residents of Staten Island, Red Hook Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Rockaways, some of the area’s hit hardest by the 2012 storm.

“Jill was a true leader during the storm, and I’m sure that’s why things went as well they did,” Zucker said. “It takes a true leader to put service above oneself.”

Tracey Boyd is a regional reporter.

Editor’s note: Nominations are now being accepted for the 2014 Nurse.com Nursing Excellence GEM Awards. For information or to nominate an RN colleague, visit Nurse.com/NursingExcellence.